(The ratings history of the show has certainly been mythologized and outright misrepresented in many articles over the years, from saying it wasn't until after Barnabas' appearance that the show was renewed (when it had already been renewed during the Laura storyline) to saying the show was canceled because of poor ratings (when in fact the ratings were not only still quite acceptable, they were actually higher than they had been during Barn's first year). But then, what have we said about writers not checking their facts and simply rehashing what they've come across from less than reliable sources?
And. of course, the myth that's often still perpetuated to this day is so much more dramatic than the truth so, despite being untrue, it has its appeal...)